Chapter 223: Chapter Two Hundred Twenty-Three

Chapter Two Hundred Twenty-Three

"Your Majesty, they've all gone."

After shutting the door tight, Shi Gui jogged back and said in a low voice.

Seeing the Emperor reach out his hand, he hurried over to help him up.

"Xiyue Emperor, please take it slow."

Leaning against the soft cushion, he recalled the hypocritical manner of that mother-and-son pair from earlier and let out a mocking laugh.

"Heh!"

"Putting on an act! Always so good at acting!"

He looked toward Shi Gui.

"Those few jars brought back from the Cheng Family Army last time—have you figured anything out?"

Shi Gui lowered his head respectfully.

"The Qianlong Guard reported that the powder in the jars is a mixture of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal. I've already sent people to gather the materials."

The Shunhe Emperor nodded in satisfaction.

"Very well, then."

Thinking of the intelligence report—blasting apart mountains and shattering rocks, that kind of power?

The Shunhe Emperor's heart burned with eagerness, a restless excitement showing on his face.

With such a sharp weapon in hand, once the Cheng Family Army's rebellion is quelled, the Da Yin army in the future will surely be invincible!

"Has the Imperial Guard side been arranged?"

"This Servant has already secretly passed Your Majesty's Imperial Decree to Commander Xu."

The Shunhe Emperor's tone turned cold.

"Considering you've served by my side for many years, I can overlook last night's carelessness. But tomorrow's matter—I don't wish to see any slip-ups again!"

"Do you understand?"

The oppressive tone made Shi Gui's heart tremble, the hairs on his back standing on end. He hurriedly dropped to his knees and kowtowed.

"This Servant understands. Thank the Xiyue Emperor for his grace."

In his heart, he felt deeply relieved as well.

For the Emperor's sake, and for his own.

Last night, had he not been knocked out by a moment's inattention while decocting medicine, the medicine wouldn't have fallen into the Sixth Princess's hands—and been poisoned at that.

Fortunately, the Xiyue Emperor didn't drink it.

Thinking of the person who had knocked him out, Shi Gui's expression carried a hint of hurt and grievance.

Although he hadn't seen that person's appearance, he had caught a very familiar scent of face powder.

It was Hua Ru.

So then, her sudden show of goodwill toward him these past days, her concern for him—was it all at the Empress Dowager's behest?

……

Early the next morning, inside Taiji Hall.

Early Court had already begun, but the Emperor had yet to arrive. The Imperial Officials gathered in small clusters of three or five, whispering among themselves.

"Why hasn't Your Majesty come yet?"

"Yesterday was also quite strange. We were supposed to see off the Seventh Princess in front of Taiji Hall. I had already gotten onto my Horse Carriage, when unexpectedly a verbal decree came from the Imperial Palace saying Early Court was canceled."

"Surely it won't be canceled again today? Otherwise, why hasn't Your Majesty arrived yet?"

Once they had discussed enough, the Crown Prince slowly ascended the steps.

"Honored Imperial Officials, the Father Emperor is unwell. For the next few days, this Imperial Prince shall act as regent."

Hearing this, most said nothing, but a few Old Ministers stepped forward to question him.

"May I ask Crown Prince Imperial Prince—has the Xiyue Emperor issued a decree?"

The Crown Prince was taken aback, seemingly not expecting to be challenged, but he quickly recovered, shaking his head without changing his expression.

"He has not."

The Old Minister asked again.

"Then there was a verbal decree? Why is Stone Chief Steward, who is always by the Xiyue Emperor's side, not present?"

Hearing them say this, the others also felt something was amiss.

"Indeed, why isn't Stone Chief Steward here?"

Seeing more and more Imperial Officials raising doubts, the Crown Prince grew somewhat flustered. He dug his nails hard into his palm to steady himself and shouted sharply.

"Silence!"

"The Father Emperor is unwell, and Stone Chief Steward remains by his side to attend him, which is why he cannot come to deliver the decree. What is improper about that?"

"Could this Imperial Prince possibly be falsely transmitting an Imperial Decree?!"

The Imperial Officials in the hall exchanged uncertain glances, then finally lowered their heads and cupped their hands.

"We Imperial Officials would not dare."

Seeing this, the Crown Prince nodded in satisfaction.

"Then if there is business, present it; if not, the court is dismissed!"

Suddenly, a sharp, shrill, and effeminate voice sang out loudly.

"The Xiyue Emperor arrives—"

Under the Crown Prince's incredulous gaze, the Shunhe Emperor strode up onto the High Platform, came to a halt before the Dragon Throne, and fixed him with a cold stare.

"Unfilial son! You truly have quite the nerve!"

"How dare you forge an Imperial Decree?!"

"What, you're trying to usurp the throne in broad daylight?!"

The Crown Prince was clearly caught off guard and stood stunned for quite a while.

"F-Father Emperor?"

"How could you…"

The Shunhe Emperor let out a cold laugh.

"Didn't expect it, did you? I did not drink that bowl of medicine last night. Yuxi has already told me everything."

Hearing this, the Crown Prince bit down hard on his molars, his fists clenching with a series of cracks.

Shen Yuxi!

That useless good-for-nothing who can't even get things right!

If she weren't already on the road to the marriage alliance, he'd make her pay dearly!

"Guards!"

At the Shunhe Emperor's command, the Imperial Guard outside the hall rushed in.

"Seize this treasonous son who tried to patricide and usurp the throne!"

"No!"

Shen Hao struggled desperately.

"Father Emperor, you cannot do this!"

"How dare you! Do not touch me!"

"Father Emperor! I am the Crown Prince of Da Yin, your only son. This throne will be mine sooner or later. What's wrong with me taking what's mine a little earlier?!"

The Shunhe Emperor turned and sat steadily on the Dragon Throne, casting a glance devoid of any warmth.

"You see, you're wrong again!"

The Crown Prince was stunned, forgetting to struggle, his face blank with confusion.

"Wh-what?"

"I am the Son of Heaven. When I say you're wrong, you're wrong!"

Saying this, he looked down and patted the armrest of the Dragon Throne.

"What is mine, I may bestow upon you, but you may not covet it, may not ask for it, and certainly may not reach out and take it!"

Having said this, the Shunhe Emperor no longer wished to deal with him and slightly raised his chin.

"Take him away!"

After the Crown Prince was taken away, he issued another Imperial Decree.

"Hear my decree!"

"The Empress is vicious and jealous, lacking in virtue, having harmed the imperial heir—her heart deserves death! Effective immediately, confine her within Fengyi Palace. She may not leave, and no one is permitted to visit her! Once the rebellion is quelled, she shall be dealt with accordingly!"

As for the fact that the Empress was actually a spy from Dongxun, he had no intention of revealing it.

First, Da Yin and Dongxun cannot afford to fall out at this time.

Second, it would be utterly disgraceful!

At this thought, the cold aura around the Shunhe Emperor could practically solidify.

Seeing his furious stance, even several Old Ministers dared not speak.

The Shunhe Emperor had just dealt with the Empress and Crown Prince's rebellion when news arrived from the front lines.

The Cheng Family Army had advanced another thirty li toward the Capital!

Now less than a hundred li from the Capital!

Fortunately, You Ke and the Muyuan Kingdom army would arrive soon.

And there was also the grand army coming from the east for the marriage alliance.

This battle was sure to be won!

The Shunhe Emperor thought with full confidence.

……

Speaking of the Dongxun marriage escort.

They hurried toward the Capital all the way.

Yet on the tenth day after the escort leaving the Capital, the bridal convoy suddenly stopped moving.

At the Yi Zhan, Shen Yuxi was utterly perplexed.

Why did the Dongxun envoy want the convoy to stop here?

After once again urging them to hurry and being refused by the Dongxun envoy, Shen Yuxi grew increasingly uneasy.

Could they be waiting for the people from the palace to send Seventh Sister over?

That shouldn't be the case?

The night before leaving the palace, she had told Father Emperor so many secrets. Mother Empress and Crown Prince Brother must now be too busy saving themselves to care about her.

As for Father Emperor, to him, as long as someone goes to the marriage alliance and secures the Borrow Troops from Dongxun, that's enough.

He couldn't care less which daughter is sent away!

Shen Yuxi racked her brains but couldn't figure it out.

"What on earth is going on?"

……

On another late night, the Shunhe Emperor had just finished reviewing his Memorials and was preparing to rest when a flurry of urgent footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

Shi Gui hurried out to check, and shortly returned with a solemn expression to present a Memorial.

"Your Majesty, the General of Chariots and Cavalry has sent word—You Ke has rebelled! The rebel army has advanced another thirty li!"

The Shunhe Emperor's hand trembled sharply, and the tea in his cup spilled all over the Memorial at his side.

He snatched the Memorial over in one motion, still trying to comfort himself out loud.

"No need to fear. Even if You Ke has rebelled, don't we still have the Muyuan reinforcements?"

Scanning ten lines at a glance, the Memorial slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor. The Shunhe Emperor collapsed into his chair as though every ounce of strength had been drained from his body.

"Muyuan has actually taken the Cheng Family Army's side as well?"

He overturned the writing desk in one sweep, his eyes blood-red, and roared in a low voice.

"How could this have happened?!"

Is Heaven truly determined to destroy our Da Yin?!